Cloth shrinking machine



B. J. SHAW CLOTH SHRINKING MACHINE June 18,.,1935..

'-Sheet l Filed June 2o, 1954 imm 2 Sheets l IVENTOR @mf ini@ ATTOR June 18,- 193.5. B. J. sHAw CLOTH SHRINKING MACHINE Filed June 2O, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mlm, Hrnr INVENTOR Patented June 18, 19375 Application June 20, 1934, Serial No. `731,418

v l n y Claims.

My-invention relates toan'improvement ina clothshrinking machine and itsnovelty consists in the adaptation and combination of parts and in the process of carrying out` said cloth shrink'- .5 ing aswill be morefully hereinafterppointed out.

`This application is acontinuation of my application Serial No. 697,761,.led November 13,

l933, 1?atent No. 1,988,519 of January 22, 1935.

IIfhe cloth shrinkingv machines lnow on the market adapted for :the shrinking of woolen` cloths suchas used in mens clothing, all require a pulling of the. cloth through the various steamingfxwater bath and removal ofthe surplus water in order to effect a proper shrinking. of the cloth and ,thereby stretch the cloth lengthwise and narrow the cloth in'wdthbecause ofv said pulling. v v, This shrinking of the cloth is absolutely essential Vin ,order to have the cloth in proper condition for cutting andmaking up. into clothing, as otherwise the goods will shrink after the clothing is made up andthereby cause av suit which was a perfect nt when made 'to become too short and too small aroundto't the person for Whom the clothes were made.r

In carrying out the shrinking operation on the devices now onthemarket or onany-ofthose represented by prior patents also,. causes adistortion of the cloth making l,it too long andtoo narrow and alsotoo thick so thatwhen made; up into a suit it causespthe s uit tobecome' readily baggy and also loses asubst'antal amountfof the cloth because of the narrowing of the fabric yand the thickening, of the same. 1

. My process and machine forcarrying out the same overcome this mostseriousproblem vand insure an even shrinking of theentire fabric .treated without any longitudinal or-lateral distortion and insuring a fabric which will make upfinto garments that will not shrink or become baggy because of the undue thickness ofthe yfabric through distortion.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side i 'elevationfof my completey device with a portion of the bath vat brokenaway for convenience yin illustration and showing the ,complete surplus water removal and distributor circulation system. `Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1 with two portions broken away'in order to -show th construction beneath.` i, .f

1 In thejdrawingson the base or oor 3 is rigidly mounted by means of bolts 4 inthe usual way, a pairV of end frame membersv 5 of vsuitable cast iron or steel which are off-a V type'and are designed and flanged to` accommodate. cross `members 6 of suitable thick wood forming the sides of .a V typ'e vat l'1, and the ends 5` are rig-` idly secured togetherf by means 5 of iron rods A8 4wherebyI the wooden cross' membersv 6 may be securely clamped4 tightly to each endu 5. L On the inside of each of the ends 5; is rigidly secured t a pair of` angleirons 9 formingr between each of said pairs `of angle VVirons 9 a vertical slot YIU inwhichthe endsof a shaft II of a riding roller I2 is adapted `to slide as the roller ridesup and down.4 Rigidly' securedto each of the upper edges of the two end frames 5 inthe usual man ner by means of bolts I3 are brackets I4 adapted to suspend shafts I5 and I6, on the usual roller,

.bearings I'5aI and I6a. respectively, of drivenrollaers Iland I8 having-respectively flanges I9 and 20. Tothe outer end lof theshaft I5 is rigidlyI secured in the usual way az pulley 2| by means of which power from an outside source (not shown) isy transmitted to said'shaftv 'I5vand to roller I'I thereon. VA pulley 22|tapered toward the roller Il; isalso mounted in `the usual way on said will rotate more rapidly than roller I1. This will 4insure the cloth 86 being fedto the water'vat 'I coming in at a'slightly more'` rapid rate than it leaves the vat so as to prevent any; possible. pull on said cloth B6 duefto'shrinkage ,as it` passes through said vat 'L- ,y iv

At the left hand end of Figurefhwhich is the startingpoint of my device, is rigidlyse'cured to each of the endsy 5in the usualv way `atp2I, y'a' pair of brackets 21 on which iszrigidlysecured in the usual'way at 28 a. platform :29.1 gOnY the 'platform 29 is-rigidly mounted al steam box 3|Jvof =frame members 34 av pair of brackets 68 in which are supported usual roller bearings 68 and y in saidzbearingsfGS is,` mounted shaft I0 of an idling roller 1I. Immediately below vsaid roller H is rigidly secured at'31 to each of `the frame members 34 al pair of brackets38 on'which'is rigidly supported a drier 39 vin the usual manner 'having a slotorropening 40 forfpractically its entire length.V i Y Rigidly` secured to. each of the Vframes .34

the usual manner at 4I is a box 42 which is held in rigid position on said frames 34 at each end by means of i plates 43 whichare fastened over the ends of said box 42 by means of the usual bolts 44. Said box 42 has a foraminous cove 42awhichmay be omitted if desired. f

In said box 42 is a pipe 45 running the entireV length of said vbox and having a narrow slot on the upper face of said pipe for substantially the entire length of the same immediately under said foraminous cover 42a in said box 42,.` Said pipe 45 extends down from each end of said box 42 to a T 46 in the middle underneath said endA frames 34 and from said T 46 said pipe 45I continues in a single pipe to T 41 where pipe 48 runs up `tovacuum chamber 49 of usual construction andsaid pipe 48 continues on into electrically operated automatic vacuum control 50 of usual construction now in general use,

adapted to automatically maintain a fixed vacuum slightly above that required for the heavy cloth and having electrical connections 5I to a source of power not shown. This may for example beset for a maximum vacuum of I0 inches forthe heavycloth. When that maximum is reached a pump 53 will stop. More air willbe pulled throughthe light weight fabrics in a giventime and this lowers the vacuum in the system as required. i From T 41 pipe 45 continues through strainerV 52 of usual well known construction and thence into said pump 53 of well known construction and from pump 53 continues on in pipe 45 into a separating tank 55 of usual well known construction, said tankhaving vthe usual air exhaust 56 at its upper end. The pipe 45 then continues from the bottom of this separatingtank 55 to mixing tank 51 which has onits side a Water inlet 58 controlled by valve 59 `and said pipe 45.continues from the bottom of said mixing rtank 51 to the T 60 from which there -is'a drainpipe 6I controlled by valve 62, draining oil to a 'wasteinot shown) and the i pipe y45 continuesfrom said T 60Y through one Yis renewed and largely maintained'by the surplus water taken through the vacuum or surplus water remover'system and the threads or pieces of wool which may be taken in said water removed from the cloth treated will be strained out in strainer 52 before it enters the pump 53 and the normal atmospheric pressure is restored to saidwater' in the separating tank 55 before it is returned to the mixing.r tank or source of water supply 51. i

A perforated metal endless apron or conveyor 12, preferably'made of a Wire mesh, is adapted to pass over rollers I1 and 1I and a guide roller '13, having shaft 14 mounted inthe usual roller bearings which in turn are mounted in brackets -15 securediin'the usual well known manner rto feach of the frame's'34f A tension roller 16 having a shaft 11 Vis mounted in the usual roller bearings inthe frames 18 which through the husual gear and threaded shaft are Amoved back and forth by means of the turning of the hand `wheel 19 on the frame 80 which is rigidlyl secured Vto theframes 34: This tension roller 16 is adapted to place more or less tension on 'the 4endless apron or Yconveyor 12 as the tension roller 16 is thereby moved back and forth in alignment with the travel of the endless conveyor 12 passing thereover. A.

A guide roller 8| havingy a shaft 82 mounted in the usual Way on roller bearings in frames 83 is pivoted at the far end as shown in Figure 1 andadapted to be moved back and forth at the near end in said Figure 1, changing the direction of the endless conveyor 52 as it passes onto rollers`I1 from roller 8|. This is accomplished through the usual gear and threaded shaft construction by means of hand Wheel 84 on the `base frame 85 rigidly secured to the frames 34 in the usual manner. Through this pivotal movement of the said guide roller 8l to the desired position the line of movement of the endless conveyor 12 passing thereover is thrown into andV can` be maintained in perfect alignment by said pivotal adjustments as it passes on to the driven roller I1.

In operating my device, a complete piece of goods or fabric 86 as it comes from the mill will be placed on the platform 29 and fed through steam box 3U in which there is the proper amount of steam for the steam treatment so that the fabric will be thoroughly steam treated. The said fabric 86 will then be passed over the driven roller I8 down into the vat 1 which is filled with water and maintained so at the proper level, and thence underV the riding roller I2 whichrides on said fabric 86 but does not throw any tension thereon as it rides up readily in slots I0 but insures a complete submersion of the cloth in order to take up the necessary water for saturation and effect shrinking. 'I'he fabric then travels up over the driven roller I1 which travels at a slightly less speed than roller I8 so that even after shrinking the fabric 86 is not put under any tensionthereby. The fabric 86 travels then on the endless conveyor 12 over thevacuum slot 45 whereby the surplus water isremoved and the remaining water evenly distributed throughout the fabric insuring a uniform moisture in the fabric 86 as it leaves said vacuum slot 45. The fabric 86 then passes on over roller 1I on said conveyor 12 and through 'the slot 40 into the drier 39.

The necessary vacuum will be maintained at the vacuum slot 45 by means of the operation of the automatic vacuum control 50 as previously described so that variations in thickness of cloth or in amount of moisture in the cloth at the vacuum slot 45 will not effect the vacuum necessary to insure the removal of the surplus water and distribution of the remaining water throughout the fabric treated.

Particular attention is called to the operation rof my device which is so arranged and carries out the process so that the fabric being `shrunk or treated receives at all times a uniform steam treatment, a sufficient Water bath and uniform removal of surplus moisture distributing evenly throughout the fabric the moisture remaining therein, all of which is accomplished without any dragging, pulling or tension on the fabric treated throughout the entire operation. This uniform and complete shrinking operation insures for the first time in this art, fabric which is' not only completely and uniformly shrunk but which is so shrunk Without any distortion, either as to. length or width of the fabric, thereby insuring a perfect fabric for manufacture into articles of clothing Without the possibility of subsequent shrinking or bagging. This process `andapparatus alsojinsures ythe .fabric remaining of even thickness throughout vso that there is noloss in the measure of the fabric for cutting purposes either in Width or in length.

It'will be apparent that many variations may be made in the particular structure of my device without departing from the spirit .and intent of the same, and the claims have been carefully prepared to and are intended to cover any and all of such variations.

I claim:

1. In va cloth shrinking machine a steam box, a water bath, means for feeding the cloth to be shrunk through saidl steam box and thence through said water bath comprising a pair of driven rollers mounted thereon at each end and connected so that the rst rotates slightly more rapidly than the second and a riding roller in said bath between said driven rollers, means for feeding said cloth from said bath overV a surplus water remover and distributor into a drier comprising an endless perforated conveyor passing over a vacuum slot, both of said feeding means operating without stretching said cloth and automatic means for regulating the suction of said surplus Water remover and distributor'.

2. In a clothshrinking machine a steam box, a Water bath, means for conveying the cloth to be shrunk to and through said steam treating means, thence to and through said Water bath, thence to and over a surplus water remover and distributor and avoiding any pulling directly on said cloth during said entire travel comprising a pair of driving rollers mounted at the upper edge of each end of said water bath in which is mounted a riding roller and said driving rollers connected so that the rst rotates slightly more rapidly than the second and an endless perforated conveyor running over the second of said driven rollers and an idler roller at ,the finishing end of said machine and automatic means for regulating the suction of said surplusv water remover and distributor.

3. In a cloth shrinking machine a steaml box, a Water bath, means for feeding'the cloth to be shrunk through said steam box and thence through said water bath comprising a pair of driven rollers at each end of said bath connected so that the rst rotates more rapidly than the second and a riding roller in said bath between, means for feeding said cloth from said bath over a surplus water remover and distributor into a drier consisting of an endless perforated conveyor passing over a vacuum slot, both of said feeding means operating without stretching said cloth, means for regulating the tension of said endless perforated conveyor and automatic means for regulating the suction of said surplus water remover and distributor.

4. In a'cloth vshrinking machine a steam box, a water bath, means for conveying the cloth to be shrunk to and through said ysteam treating means, thence to and through said water bath, thence to and over a surplus Water remover and distributor and avoiding any pulling directly on said cloth during said entire travel comprising a pair of driving rollers connected so that the first rotates more rapidly than the second and mounted at each end of the upper edge of said bath in which is mounted a riding roller, an endless perforated conveyor running over the second of saidv driven rollersand anidler I roller at the'nishing end` of said machine and means for regulating the tension of said endless perforated conveyor and automatic means for regulating the suction of said surplus Water remover and distributor.

5. In a cloth shrinking machine a steam box,

a water bath, means for feeding the cloth to be shrunk through said steam `box andvthence over a driven roller and under a riding roller in said onto an endless perforated conveyor, said driven `rollers being connected so that the first rotates more rapidly than the second, thence on said conveyor' over a surplus water remover and distributor and finally over an idler roller to ya drier and automatic means for regulating the suction of said surplus Water remover and distributor comprising an automatic vacuum control and pump.

v 6. In a cloth shrinking machine a steam box, a

water bath, means for feeding the cloth to be shrunk through said steam boxandthence over a driven roller and under a riding roller in said water bath, thence over a second driven roller onto an endless perforated conveyor, said first driven roller rotating more rapidly than the second, thence on said conveyor over a surplus water remover and distributor and finally over `l0 water bath, thence over a second driven roller a water bath, means for feeding the cloth to be shrunk through said steam box and thence through said water bath comprising a pair of driven rollers mounted thereon at each end and connected so that the first rotates slightly more rapidly than the second and a riding roller in said bath between said driven rollers and means for feeding said cloth from said bathv into a drier, both of said feeding means operating without stretching said cloth.

8. In a cloth shrinking machine a steam box,

awater bath, means forifeeding the cloth to be;

shrunk through said steam` box and thence through said water bath comprising a pair of driven rollers mountedfthereon at each end and connected so that the' first rotates slightly more rapidly than the second and a riding roller in said bath between said driven rollers and means for feeding said cloth fromk said` bath into'a 9.` In a cloth shrinking machine a steam box, a water bath, means for feeding the cloth to be shrunk through said steam box and thence through said Water bath comprising a pair of driven rollers mounted. thereon at each end and connected so Vthat the first rotates slightly in said bath between said driven rollers and vdrier comprising an endless perforated conveyor. c

. more rapidly than the secondand a riding roller means for feeding said cloth from said bath into f a drier comprising an 'endless perforated conveyor and means for regulatingY both the direction and the tension of said endless perforated conveyor. u

f y BURT J. SHAW. 

